Tears of joy for Kosova’s Beqa named overall World Champion in the women’s wellness fitness category

Gentiana Beqa of Kosovo displays the trophy as overall IFBB world champion in the women’s wellness fitness category, flanked by IFBB President Rafael Santonja, left, and Mario Valero, President of the French Bodybuilding and Fitness Association

Russia dominated the opening day of the International Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding (IFBB) World Fitness Championships here – but Kosovo’s Gentiana Beqa provided the emotional highpoint.

The 35-year-old mother-of-three from Pristina struggled to hold back tears after rounding off a superb first year in the sport by adding two gold medals to the Arnold Classic and European titles she has already won.

Beqa, who runs a gym in the Kosovo capital along with her husband Dreni, was named overall world champion in the women’s wellness fitness category having already won gold in her up To 163 centimetres category

“I was confident in my abilities, but the world is a big place with many bigger nations,” Beqa told insidethegames after defeating Brazil’s Angela Borges, winner of the over 163cm category, in the super final.

“I feel very proud for what I have been able to do here for my country.”

IFBB President Rafael Santonja commented: “We have had a highly successful first day of our World Fitness Championships.”